My Fellow Rotarians,

February is World Understanding Month and Rotary International's birthday.

As written by the great American poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson: 'Peace cannot be achieved through violence; it can only be attained through understanding.' In Rotary, we work toward peace through understanding, and we work to build understanding through service.

One needs to have nerves of steel to listen to and read the news lately because there are increasing numbers of stories related to destruction, terrorism and crime. In fact the positive or uplifting news items are few and far between. Has the world become a really dangerous place to live? Have the people lost hope? Don't we understand each other anymore? Personally, I don't believe the scenario is all that grim. All we need is to expedite our efforts in the direction of promoting peace and harmony. As they say we should rather light a candle instead of cursing the darkness. That will help. Peace may have different meaning to different people at different levels but the essence remains the same. We have to enlighten the minds and souls of the people by mobilizing all our resources. We have to promote greater tolerance and cooperation between the peoples.

Peace begins with us – you & me! By reaching out to our neighbour, by opening our hearts, by bridging the difference between people and communities; our deeds should demonstrate that indeed ROTARY Cares!

The Earthquake that devastated Haiti has left a trail of destruction and despair in its trail; thousands of lives were lost in a most terrifying way, and millions left homeless. In the media, we hear that the Red Cross is doing much to assist the victims of a disaster which occurred on January 12th. You have probably heard very little, if anything, about what Rotary is doing. That is because, although we have been in Haiti assisting, sending doctors, supplies, shelter boxes, etc. in, we have not been at the forefront. Rotary has traditionally taken a low-profile when assisting those in need and so, whilst the disaster is in the media, at the forefront of everyone's mind and already well supported by other organisations, we leave it to those who are better equipped to co-ordinate, manage and deal with the situation in the immediate and short term.

Rotary will continue to assist; our District and the entire Rotary Organization will be there long after the disaster falls off the front page and is no longer on people's minds. Continued and sustained assistance is hardest to find, this is where Rotary comes in - to provide that vital continued support when it is "off the agenda" to the general public. Let's keep the nation of Haiti in our prayers and our thoughts.

On 23 February 2008 we will celebrate Rotary's 105th birthday. February 21-27 will be the target week for opening up Rotary's 'windows to the world.' I would urge our club members to use that week, and in particular Tuesday, February 23rd, to join with every other Rotary Club in the World to say 'Happy Birthday Rotary.'

Monica Ramgeet President, Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town